History of the Museum

The City of Adel hosts a beautifully designed and curated historical museum that displays major artifacts from the city’s past. Adel is very proud of its current museum as it has been designed and maintained with a great deal of care and love from the city and volunteers.

The Story of a Community

1857–1870: School Days
The two-story brick building at 1129 Main Street was the schoolhouse for the Adel community for thirteen years, having replaced a small one-story frame structure.

1872–1898: The Leroy Lambert Home
An early pioneer of Dallas County, Leroy Lambert was one of Adel’s leading citizens, a state legislator, and he was a banker in the community for seventeen years. During his family’s residence at 1129 Main, the home was considered one of the finest in Adel.

1898–1943: The Thornton Residence
Lea Thornton ran a general store on the east side of the town square which featured “everything from open cracker barrel to yard goods to plug tobacco.” In later years of residence at the home, the Thornton family rented out rooms, which explains why some remember the property as Thornton’s Boarding House.

1949–1973: The Bowles Homes
After six years of ownership by E. A. Hiatt, Nonie Bowles bought the house for his family residence. An enclosed front porch was added (but later removed), and a portion of the home was used as apartments.

1973–1998: The Historical Society
Eager for a place to house and preserve Adel’s historic treasures, the Society launched a fund drive to purchase the Bowles property for use as a museum. Through donations or purchase, they acquired a collection which includes such items as the massive gear wheel from the early mill and the office furnishings of Iowa Governor George Clark. In 1998, the Society donated the property to the City of Adel.